Texas @ Houston preview

Texas at Houston

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2013 ) Houston 4, Texas 5

The Houston Astros have taken the brunt of the Silver Boot, and the red-hot Texas Rangers will try to ensure it stays that way when the in-state rivals begin a four-game series Friday in Houston. The Rangers lead the season series 7-2 and have won the past five meetings in Houston. Texas has won four straight and nine of its last 10 to pull even with Oakland atop the American League West.

The Rangers will start right-hander Matt Garza, who is 1-1 with a 2.82 ERA in three starts since Texas acquired him from the Chicago Cubs last month. The Astros haven't won a series since taking two of three from Milwaukee from June 18-20, going 9-30 since. They've lost two straight and six of seven.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, TXA-21 (Texas), CSN Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Matt Garza (7-2, 3.09 ERA) vs. Astros LH Erik Bedard (3-8, 4.29)

Garza suffered his first loss since June 11 in his last outing, allowing four runs over eight innings at Oakland. It also snapped a streak of eight straight quality starts for the 29-year-old. Garza is 2-3 with a 3.88 ERA in seven starts against Houston, including eight innings of four-hit ball in a win earlier this season.

Bedard has lost five straight decisions and is winless in six starts since June 26, but has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last four outings. The 34-year-old southpaw held Minnesota to three runs over six innings last time out but didn't factor in the decision. Bedard is 5-5 with a 3.51 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) against Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre is hitting .478 during a six-game hitting streak with four multi-hit games over that span.

2. Houston C Jason Castro and 1B Brett Wallace are both riding eight-game hitting streaks. Castro's streak is one game shy of his career-high, while Wallace had an 11-game stretch in 2011.

3. The Rangers have stolen 13 bases over the past two games, including a season-high seven in Wednesday's 10-3 win against the Angels.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Astros 2